The Air-Con Team An initiative to conserve the environment by reducing the usage of air-conditioners

Area of Concern - Usage of air-conditioning systems result in environmental problems - Ozone depletion - Greenhouse effect

Literature Review *insert lit review here* Supporting papers -show how we have contributed to the existing literature -nlb research here

Our project :D WHAT SETS US APART Why work with schools? -Students themselves are affecting change In mindset, attitude and knowledge Demographics Reaching out to schools to educate them and teach them social responsibility

Aim of Project -change the attitudes and habits of the general public -reduce the excessive use of air- conditioning

Underlying Problem 1. Lack of support towards our cause due to general publics concern about their personal comfort - Air-conditioning vital for comfort - Hot, humid climate in Singapore

Underlying Problem 2. Lack of awareness about the resultant environmental and financial costs - Singaporeans are still not fully aware of the environmental damage of air- conditioners

Underlying Problem According to our results: - Significant number of people unaware of harmful environmental effects of air-conditioners

Research Questions How can we strike a balance between personal comfort and the need for the reduced usage of air-conditioners? How can we encourage the efficient usage of air-conditioners if the population remains relatively nonchalant and uneducated?

Plan of Action - 3 Phase approach -Phase 1(Public Campaigning in RGS) -Phase 2(Community Outreach) -Phase 3(Reaching out to the school communities)

Plan of Action Phase 1: Campaigning in RGS - Reaching out to Class Chairpersons to be agents of change in their respective classes - Publicity around school - Implementing the change

Plan of Action Phase 2: Outreach to Communities Seletar Country Club -Interview with estate manager about the air-conditioning situation in the club - Carried out surveys - Implementation of new air-conditioning system (increasing temperature gradually each month)

Plan of Action Phase 2: Outreach to Community Community Centres - Attempted to educate people about the cause - Pasted up posters/reminders about the cause - carried out surveys to find out the peoples prior knowledge on efficient usage of air- conditioning

Plan of Action Phase 3: Reaching out to schools in Singapore Target: Schools with air-conditioned classrooms - Act on It! Workshop - educate participants about the cause - mobilize them to become agents of change and socially responsible citizens (participants given Air-Con Kits) - Surveys in respective schools before the workshop( establish level of prior knowledge)

Act on it workshop -How many people to be invited -Follow up action -Effects

Data Analysis Community outreach: Set up an exhibition at CCs to educate the public on o the impacts of the usage air conditioners on the environment o energy saving measures o the importance of cultivating environmentally friendly habits

Aim: Gauge knowledge on air conditioners (in general) and the impacts of its usage. Help us decide if it would be meaningful for us to hold an exhibition at the Community Centres and if so what aspects we should focus on. Data Analysis

We conducted surveys at Bishan Community Centre and Marine Parade Community Centre Survey respondents = 76 The survey consisted of 11 questions that enabled us to evaluate the level of knowledge the respondents had on air conditioners and its usage. Data Analysis

Question 1

Analysis of results for question 1 Only 1/3 of the respondents selected the environmentally unfriendly options of using air conditioners only or using fans and air conditioners simultaneously. This may mean that the people who frequent the community centres do not have wasteful habits when it comes to cooling their homes.

Question 2

Analysis of results for question 2a From the pie chart in the previous slide, more than half (56%) of the respondents answered yes. Once again, this seems to reflect that the people who frequent community centres are quite environmentally friendly when it comes to their usage of air conditioners.

Question 3

Analysis of results for question 2b From the pie chart in the previous slide we can see that although some respondents set their air conditioners at temperatures below 23 degrees, 80% of these respondents set their temperatures at borderline – environmentally- unfriendly temperatures. Hence, the extent to the wastage of electricity consumption is not that great.

Question 4

Analysis of results for question 3 From the pie chart, we can see that almost 60% of the respondents are not aware of the energy rating system for air conditioners. Hence they will not be able to make informed decisions when purchasing air conditioners. When purchasing air conditioners, it is important to look out for the energy rating system to select a cooling system that best suits the conditions at your house to save electricity.

Results

Analysis of results for question 5 69% of respondents who answered this question selected the option of not being willing to purchase an energy efficient air-conditioner model to replace their current one, if their current air-conditioner was still functioning. This shows that they place a higher importance on the costs they incur than on the impact that their usage of air conditioners has on the environment.

Analysis of results for question 5 To save money, they are willing to continue using an air conditioner which is not energy efficient, knowing the harm that they are causing to the environment. They are probably not aware of the extent of damage that is done to the environment and how this can directly impact their lives or the lives of the generations to come.

Results

Analysis of results for question 7 66% or 2/3 of the respondents are aware of the impacts of the usage of air-conditioners on the environment. Majority of them are aware of the impacts of air conditioners, yet 1/3 of them still continue to use air conditioners to cool their homes instead of fans and majority of them do not place importance on the energy efficiency of the model when purchasing air conditioners.

Analysis of results for question 7 This shows that the problem may not be that the public are not aware of the harmful effects of the usage of air conditioners but rather they cannot be bothered to spend the extra money or sacrifice their comfort to cultivate more environmentally friendly habits. Also, is it is extremely alarming to see that 34% of respondents were unaware of the impacts of air conditioners. It shows that not enough has been done to educate the public on the harmful effects of air conditioners on our environment.

Results

Analysis of results for question 9 72% of the respondents selected the correct option for the ideal temperature of air conditioners. Once again, this shows that majority of them are aware of some energy saving measures. However, it was reflected in an earlier chart that only 56% of the respondents set their air conditioners at this ideal range of temperatures.

Analysis of results for question 9 Hence it shows us that although they are aware that they should set it at that temperature, they are unwilling to sacrifice their comfort for the sake of the environment. This may reflect again that people are not fully aware of the devastating damage the usage of air conditioners does to the environment and they do not feel the need to start being more environmentally friendly.

Conclusion From the results of the survey, we can conclude that majority of the public o are aware of the impacts of air conditioners o generally have environmentally friendly habits when it comes to usage of air conditioners o are aware of the ideal temperature to set their air conditioners at

Conclusion However, they do not possess knowledge about the o Extent and details of the damage the usage of air conditioners have on the environment o Energy rating system of air conditioners o Existence of certified energy efficient models of air conditioners They are also unwilling to spend more money or compromise their own comfort levels for the sake of cultivating more environmentally friendly habits when it comes to using air conditioners.

Conclusion Therefore, there is a need for us to set up an exhibition to educate the public about the full extent that the usage of air conditioners have on the environment. In this exhibition, we should focus on convincing them of the importance of picking up environmentally friendly habits when using air conditioners as the main issue is that they are not willing to be more unfriendly and not that they are unaware of the energy saving measures. We should educate them on how to purchase more energy efficient air conditioners and how to clean their air filters and how often they should do it.

Conclusion We will probably set up the exhibitions during the June holidays when there are more people visiting the community centres to maximise the reach of our exhibitions.

Reflections: What we should have done - Did not achieve our desired goal. - Acted too slowly when multiple rejections pilled in. - Should have constructed a Plan B and brought it into action sooner.

Reflections: What we should have done - better time management - formulated a proper timeline at the beginning of our project - Better collaboration where every team member contributes equally.

Reflections: What we have done - Understood the problem that Singaporeans face with regards to their use of air-conditioners. - Found solutions to the problem by which we can educate the Singaporeans with.

Reflections: What we have done - Reached out to school students. - Helped students understand the need to reduce energy - Managed to see changes in energy consumption in school.

Reflections: What we have done - Have made progress: Collaboration with Seletar Country Club. - Keen to do much more (upcoming ACT on It! Workshop) - Very glad to have a Secondary 2 team under our wing.

Reflections: What we will be doing - Because of the aforementioned issues, we have not really solved the problem. - Have a detailed timeline and plan of action in place, - Involves us solving the problem. - Creates new avenues for the Sec 2 team to work in.

Reflections: What we will be doing - Act On It! Workshop to reach out to a larger audience. - Spread the message to other schools who are experiencing similar problems.

Reflections (What we should have done) Did not achieved our desired goal. Acted too slowly when multiple rejections pilled in. Should have constructed a Plan B and brought it into action sooner.

Better time management Formulated a proper timeline at the beginning of our project Better collaboration where every team member contributes equally. Reflections (What we should have done)

Reflections (What we have done) Reached out to school students. Help students understand the need to reduce energy Managed to see changes in energy consumption in school.

Have made progress: Collaboration with Seletar Country Club. Keen to do much more. Very glad to have a Secondary 2 team under our wing. Reflections (What we have done)

Reflections (What we will be doing) Because of the aforementioned issues, we have not really solved the problem. Have a detailed timeline and plan of action in place Involves us solving the problem. Creates new avenues for the Sec 2 team to work in.

Thank you